Trent XWB takes to the air

The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine has taken to the skies for the first time, powering an Airbus A380 test aircraft in Toulouse, France. The aircraft flew with one of its four Trent 900 engines replaced by a Trent XWB.

23rd Feb 2012

The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine has taken to the skies for the first time, powering an Airbus A380 test aircraft in Toulouse, France. The aircraft flew with one of its four Trent 900 engines replaced by a Trent XWB.

The Trent XWB will power the new Airbus A350 XWB, and rolls-Royce currently has around 1,100 units on order.

Rolls-Royce says that data recorded during a series of test flights that will accumulate around 175 flight hours and which will run for a seven month period, will validate results from ground testing and demonstrate the engine’s in-flight performance. The Trent XWB has already successfully completed more than 1,500 hours of testing, including endurance running, icing and simulated altitude.

Chris Young, Rolls-Royce, Trent XWB Programme Director, said: “It’s a great moment to see the Trent XWB take to the air for the first time. Today’s flight is the product of years of work and demonstrates the progress being made on our journey to deliver this world leading technology.”

The Trent XWB ran on a ground test bed for the first time in June 2010.